Julii Emergency!

This is a discussion on Julii Emergency! within the Catfish forums, part of the Freshwater and Tropical Fish category; -->
I had a Black Skirt Tetra I bought for a christmas gift for a friend and was keeping it in my tank. It got ...

I had a Black Skirt Tetra I bought for a christmas gift for a friend and was keeping it in my tank. It got agressive and killed several of my shrimp, so I gave it her early. The fish were tramatized, so when me Julii kept hiding, I didn't think anything of it. After a few days, I finally got a good look at him. His back fin has DEFINITLY been nipped BAD! Somehow, his little barbals have been damaged. And he looks like he has an injury on his side. Can I save him? What do I need to do? I don't want to loosed him Posted via Mobile Device

He is laying on his injured side now and not moving much. I'm going to do a major water change in my main tank and try to keep it supper clean like you said. Would the med you're talking about be safe for inverts? I'm sorry that I can't do everything to save him. I wish I could. He is such a sweetie

I worry that he is beyond saving at this point. I wish I would have caught it sooner, but everyone was shy and tramatizzed after what happened, I just assumed he was too :'-(Posted via Mobile Device

Given the circumstances, leaving it alone may be best. Less stress, which can allow it to gain strength and fight off bacteria, fungus, etc.

Treating the whole tank for something can be hit and miss, as this will stress the fish (almost all medications do) and that may make things even worse, esp if the selected medication does not actually help the problem.

The barbels and fin are not critical, the fin may regenerate. Barbels likely won't , though some sources have suggested they sometimes do. But corys can manage without barbels, I have had a few live for years after losing barbels. Keep an eye out for fungus on the barbels or the fin. I will suggest a remedy if this occurs.

As for the red blotch, this may be more serious. Any chance of a photo? Unless that shows us something, I would be inclined to leave it, again watching for fuzzy fungus. But from your description of the cory's behaviour, the end may be near.

Now, as I mentioned in my PM response to you (bluewind), I'm just going to comment generally on the tetra issue. This is a classic case of what to expect when a shoaling fish is not kept in sufficient numbers (and the species here is something of a fin nipper to start with, so 8 or more is best), or in small surroundings (to the fish). We all know and appreciate the circumstances of how you came to own this sole fish, so I'm not targeting you. But just generally noting what is almost certain to occur when the science is ignored. We can all learn from the unfortunate experiences of others once we recognize the reasons.

I appreciate it. And feel free to use my story as a warning to others.

Todo is still alive, but docile to the point that I was actually able to scoop him up with my had to look at him. He looks to have vertical lesions on his side close to his back fin. I think there is blood under the skin because of the red. He has not eaten today. I'm not sure, but I think there is a somewhat puncture-esk mark near his gill on that side. His barbels are also gone and the bottom of his back fin is shredded. My tank also had an odor this morning, but all tests came back normal. It could have been the API stress coat I added as there was a slight oily film on the top too. The other fish are acting like normal, but I still did a 50% pwc.Posted via Mobile Device

Now I'm worried about my other fish! The Neons have small white spots on their fins. I put in a invert safe Ick/Infection treatment just in case it was that. GOD! WHY CAN'T I DO ANYTHING RIGHT!!! :'-(Posted via Mobile Device

Now I'm worried about my other fish! The Neons have small white spots on their fins. I put in a invert safe Ick/Infection treatment just in case it was that. GOD! WHY CAN'T I DO ANYTHING RIGHT!!! :'-(Posted via Mobile Device

Ick or white spot is a common protozoan. Outbreaks are caused solely by stress; the parasite is present in almost every aquarium as it is in every natural watercourse. Healthy fish build up a type of immunity. But when fish get stressed, their defenses weaken, the immune system is less able to function properly, and ich is often able to get through. We frequently see ich on new fish because of the tremendous stress they have been subjected to; even moving them from a store tank into your tank.

The thinking that ich is always present in your aquarium used to be scoffed at, but in recent years this fact has been mentioned by more and more very knowledgeable writers. A tank of fish to which absolutely nothing new has been added in a year will suddenly explode with ich if the heater fails overnight and the fish get chilled, or if the tank lights are left on 24/7. There is simply no other explanation.

When I see spots, if they are very few, say one or two on a fish, I usually do nothing and monitor. Clean water (increase water changes to revitalize the fish), and avoiding additional stress can work wonders. But if the spots increase, treatment is advised as this disease is today more virulent than it apparently used to be, and fish deaths from severe infections are more common.

Treatments vary and most may be effective (some are not, be careful what you add to the tank). Raising the heat to 90F for a week will cure it, but not all fish can tolerate this. I raise my tank to 85F, and add CopperSafe. This is a quite mild copper-based remedy, and my most delicate fish survive it.

Thanks Jackie. I was pretty upset. I posted asking how to euthanize him because he was looking soooo bad, but he passed before anyone replied

I did a 80% pwc yesterday and added a half dose of a combo med for ick and infections as everyone is stressed and possibly hurt after the incident with the Black Tetra. I will be doing a 20% pwc today and adding another half treatment. Just something to jumpstart the healing process and hopefully prevent any infections. I think I will keep doing a daily 2gal pwc for a week to see if that helps.

Everyone seems to be feeling better today, but still not as active as normal. I imagine they were a bit tramatized by the whole mess. You know your fish are in bad shape when the most active one in the tank is the snail! XD

I will be adding new fish next month and I sincerely want as much advice as I can get from yall as to what to add. I know for sure I will be getting 2 more Neons to increase the group to a better size.

I was thinking more Cory Cats, but I'm hesitant after what happen and I worry if I am the best keeper for the wonderful little guys. And if I go for Cory Cats, which one should I get?!? There are so many types and I want something that can life a nice happy life in my tank. Maybe Otos?

I love Loaches, but they eat snails (have one already) and shrimp. Maybe I can get my Mystery Snail a mate? Or maybe more shrimp?

Or maybe a mid level, surface, or full tank swimmer? My mid level is kind of full atm, so I wonder if that would even work!

As you can see, I'm conflicted. I opened a thread in the Aquarium forum if you would rather respond there...